Isaiah Washington explains anti-gay slur

Hello, I'm Rebecca Field with a UPI entertainment update on this Tuesday, July 3, 2007.

Actor Isaiah Washington is explaining why he said that antigay slur. On CNN's "Larry King Live" last night, the actor blamed his "Grey's Anatomy" co-star Patrick Dempsey for making him angry. Washington said he and the actor got into a heated fight over Dempsey's tardiness...which resulted in him using the word. Washington told King he's not homophobic and the term was used in a moment of anger and not directed at anyone.

Fans are going wild over the newest "Harry Potter" book. Amazon.com says pre-sales for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" have reached an all time high. Since pre-sales began on Feb. first, there have been 1.6 million orders worldwide for the book. This is the seventh book in the series and is set to be released July 21.

Actress Cameron Diaz is denying breaking up illusionist Criss Angel's marriage. Her rep says when she met Angel, he was separated from his wife and had filed for divorce. Angel says he and Diaz only went on a few dates, and they have no relationship. Angel's ex is reportedly suing him for abandonment and mental cruelty. She also reportedly plans to subpoena Diaz, naming the actress as his lover.

Opera icon Beverly Sills has lost her battle with cancer. The singer and former Chairwoman of the metropolitan Opera died yesterday at the age of 78. Her manager says she died of lung cancer. In Sills' career, she took on more than 70 roles and recorded 18 full length operas. Following her last appearance on stage in 1980, she served as Chairwoman until 2005.

Actress Lindsay Lohan celebrated her 21st birthday in rehab. People magazine reports her mom and siblings arrived in Los Angeles yesterday to join Lohan at the treatment facility. Her mom said it would be a family celebration. She apparently had originally planned a huge party at a Las Vegas nightclub.

That's all for now, check out upi.com for all the day's news and updates. Thanks for watching.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Isaiah
• Washington
• Lindsay
• Lohan
• Beverly
• Sills
• Cameron
• Diaz
• Harry
• Potter
• Patrick
• Dempsey
• celebrity
• female

[atomus]

People are defending Isaiah by explaining that what he said was said in a moment of anger and he didn't mean it - and I can understand that

However, it still really is no excuse. That word can be very damaging

I'm sure if someone let the word "nigger" slip out

his/her head would have to roll - NO DOUBT!

[buddyholly429]

Washington's a dick and everybody knows it.

[ms0487a]

Damn, if Isaiah was white, would his race even be an issue? Any asshole can try and belittle someone because of their sexual orientation, so this guy just happens to be black, so race...once again... becomes an issue...two wrongs don't make a right.

[pbjellybeanful]

i don't like him

i know he didn't mean to say the word but he blamed it on patrick dempsey which is ridiculous

[ms0487a]

@pbjellybeanful If you don't I have no interest in explaining. Maybe one day you'll figure it out. Until then, please keep your fucking mouth shout, or your fingers motionless.